FALLS TOWNSHIP, Pa. — Tragedy struck a northeastern Philadelphia suburb as three individuals lost their lives in separate shooting incidents on Saturday, authorities confirmed.
Law enforcement in Falls Township took action by issuing a shelter-in-place order following reports of multiple gunshot victims. Trenton Mayor Reed Gusciora shared that Andre Gordon, the suspect behind the shootings, was apprehended in a peaceful manner as he wandered near a home surrounded by police.
Gordon faced accusations of fatally shooting three individuals in Pennsylvania before seeking refuge in a Trenton, New Jersey, residence. Law enforcement officials surrounded the Trenton home where Gordon was believed to have barricaded himself with hostages, prompting a SWAT team response. The safety of the residents inside the home was of utmost priority, leading to successful evacuations.
During a news conference, officials identified the victims of the tragic incident. Gordon’s violent spree began with the shooting of his 52-year-old stepmother and 13-year-old sister in Levittown, Pennsylvania. He then proceeded to another location and fatally shot the mother of his two children. The perpetrator was known to the victims, and his actions were described as a domestic-related incident.
The people of Falls Township were advised to take precautions as the situation unfolded, with businesses like the Oxford Valley Mall, Sesame Place Philadelphia, and a Target store in Langhorne closing temporarily. The Bucks County St. Patrick’s Day Parade was also canceled as a safety measure.
The lockdown in Falls Township was eventually lifted by the fire marshal, but the threat posed by Gordon persisted. Police emphasized the dangerous nature of the suspect and urged the public to report any sightings immediately. The suspect’s vehicle, a 2016 dark gray Honda CRV, remained missing, adding to the urgency of the situation.
As authorities continued their investigation into the tragic events, the community remained on edge, grappling with the impact of the senseless violence that had unfolded in their midst. The search for answers and closure loomed large as residents sought to come to terms with the loss of life and the trauma inflicted by the events in Falls Township.